This article breaks down results of some of the top prospect matchups from this past weekend. Several prospects really helped their draft stock.
I wasn’t able to get a great look at the Calvin Barnett- Gabe Jackson and Jason Verrett-Odell Beckham Jr matchups. Keep checking back with this article as Ill update it as soon as I’m able to get a good look at both games.
North Carolina vs. South Carolina
Jadeveon Clowney got so much attention from ESPN that it was hard to watch the actual game. Clowney showed the same elite athleticism and pass-rush ability as last season. His quickness and change of direction were just too much for the North Carolina offensive linemen.
Clowney helped expose James Hurst’s lack of overall athleticism. Hurst is a solid prospect but it’s obvious he’ll struggle to handle the quicker pass-rushers at the next level.
Most of the media quickly realized that Clowney wasn’t in the best of shape—although there was a report that he was battling the flu. None the less, he look winded and actually had to be subbed out of the game quite often.
It’s important to find a balance between overreacting and taking something seriously. Clowney is still an elite prospect, but teams will need to make sure he’s going to put the work in needed to be difference maker at the next level.
Virginia Tech vs. Alabama
The score didn’t really represent the level of competitiveness in this game. Virginia Tech’s offensive struggles put a lot of pressure on the defense. However, that defense played well causing some issues for Alabama.
The big winner from a prospect stand point was Virginia Tech cornerback Kyle Fuller. He played extremely tight coverage, supported the run and showed excellent ball skills. It’s obvious he was up to the challenge.
Alabama appeared to focus on going away from Fuller’s side of the field. Virginia Tech used him a lot against Amari Cooper, and Fuller helped prevent him from making any big plays.
The James Gayle and Cyrus Kouandjio matched up really didn’t take place. Gayle spent most of his time attacking right tackle Austin Shepherd. Gayle generated good pressure while also holding against the run. It wasn’t a great performance but it shouldn’t hurt his draft stock.
Buffalo vs. Ohio State
Khalil Mack took the national stage and didn’t disappoint. He consistently disrupted the flow of the Ohio State offensive while generating two turnovers and at least three sacks. Mack played with great energy and tenacity despite the fact his team was severely overmatched.
The biggest thing to take away from Mack’s performance was his overall improvement as a pass rusher. He showed a great power move to go along with his quickness around the edge and change of direction ability.
One area he needs some work is the ability to hold at the point of attack. There were times where the offensive lineman drove him a yard or two back.
Either way, Mack helped his draft stock and I wouldn’t be surprised if we start seeing some top-10 love in the coming weeks.
Vanderbilt vs. Ole Miss
This was one of the more exciting games of the weekend, but the matchup I laid out on Thursday didn’t take place. The problem was that Ole Miss cornerback Charles Sawyer was still slowed from a quad tear he suffered last season.
Sawyer saw very limited playing time and didn’t take one snap against Jordan Matthews. This proved problematic for Ole Miss as Matthews produced big plays all game long.
Matthews’ ability to find openings in the defense really helped the Vanderbilt offense move the chains. He also showed that he’s quick enough to attack the deep part of the field. His one blunder was costly as he failed to catch a ball that end up bouncing into the hands of the defense.